Quick-change slush nozzle



Aug. 29, 1950 Char/e5 C Goo/sbee Patented Aug. 29, 1956 QUICK-CHANGE SLUSH NOZZLE Charles C. Goolsbee, Houston, Tex assignor to Reed Roller Bit Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application December 16, 1947, Serial No. 791,952

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in interchangeable slush nozzles for rotary drill bits and refers more particularly to such an assembly wherein the nozzle element may be readily interchanged without the use of special tools.

In boring well holes with rotary bits it is the practice to maintain circulation of a drilling fluid known to the industry as mud or slush. This fluid is usually circulated downwardly through the drill stem, drill bit and out through slush ports in the bit body. The mud is preferably directed by the slush port upon the cutter elements of the bit to cleanse adhering debris therefrom and to pick up the cuttings. The mud then circulates upwardly through the well bore surrounding the bit and drill stem. The gritty character of the mud makes it desirable to use slush nozzles of wear resisting material and more recently the practice has been to provide readily interchangeable slush nozzles.

Heretofore, for quick change nozzles, it has been the practice to employ a bushing which is welded in the slush port and the interchangeable nozzle is secured within the bushing by means of a sleeve of relatively soft material, which is welded at one end to the periphery of the bushing. The other end of the sleeve is castellated to permit bending of the castellated portion over the end of the bushing so as to releasably anchor the nozzle within the bushing. The end of the sleeve which is welded to the nozzle is bell shaped to provide a seating surface for compressing sealing material between such surface and a complementary surface formed upon the bushing. While this assembly has proven satisfactory in use, from the standpoint of performance, it is nevertheless desirable to provide an assembly which is equally efficient in operation, which may be more readily changed, and in which the sleeve is eliminated to reduce the number of requisite parts.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved slush nozzle assembly in which the slush nozzle may be readily changed.

Another object is to provide a slush nozzle assembly wherein the nozzle may be readily changed in the field without the use of special tools.

A further object is to provide a slush nozzle assembly wherein the nozzle is releasably secured in operative position by use of a snap ring.

Yet another object is to provide a quick change slush nozzle for a drill bit wherein the nozzle is resiliently mounted to permit breathing thereof due to the pressure differential thereacross.

iii

Yet a further object is to provide a quick change slush nozzle assembly wherein the nozzle is held within a bushing by a resilient seal member secured to the nozzle and bushing wherein the seal member has a releasable connection with at least one of these.

Other and further objects of this invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the instant specification, are to be read in conjunction therewith, and wherein like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views;

Fig. 1 is a, sectional elevation through a bit body and equipped with a slush assembly constituting an embodiment of this invention and shown in exploded view; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the slush nozzle assembly in assembled operating position.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 5 designates a bit body having a recess therein which communicates with the interio of a, string of drill pipe in operation. The body has a slush or mud port 6 formed therein adjacent one of the cutter elements I and adapted to direct drilling fluid over the element. The bit is shown as a drag type bit having one drilling fluid outlet. However, it is contemplated that the bit may also be the type having roller cutters and a plurality of drilling fluid outlets may be provided if required, each of which may be fitted with a quick change slush nozzle assembly in accordance with this invention.

The slush nozzle assembly is made up of a bushing 8, a nozzle 9 and a flexible seal member ID. Bushing 8 is secured in place within aperture 6 and preferably a semi-permanent connection such as welding II is used for this purpose.

Bushing 8 has a bore therethrough with a portion of substantially constant diameter which closely fits the outer periphery of nozzle 9. The bore also has an inwardly tapering portion and at its outer edge is provided with an. annular hook like portion l2. This latter part provides a means for releasably securing a seal. member 13 thereto.

Seal member l3 may be fabricated from flexible plastic or sealing material and preferably is relatively stiff and resilient. Member I3 is formed with an annular recess M which substantially conforms to the contour of the hook part 12. The seal member also has a lip portion 15 which closely fits over the outer periphery of bushing 8 to provide a lip type seal Which is made effective by the pressure differential thereacross.

Member l3 not only serves as a seal between the nozzle and bushing but also releasably secures the nozzle within the bushing. The manner in which the member and bushing are secured one to the other has been described and the bushing is secured to the nozzle in a similar fashion. The nozzle has an -.annularpart or bead i6 exteriorly surrounding it which is adapted to mate with a corresponding groove upon the interior of member It. It is to be understood that if desired the member l3 may be bonded to nozzle .9 in which case it is not absolutely requisite that -bead f6 be provided.

Member l3 has an annular :tapered .portionllfi which substantially fills the annular tapered space provided between the bushing and nozzle adjacent the hook end of the bushing. It will be apparent that the wedging action of the flowable material of member I3 compressed into this tapered annular space by the pressure differential acros the slush nozzle assembly will serve to limit. sliding movement of the nozzle within the bushing. Thus, a very limited movement or breathing is permitted in response to pressure variations across the assembl and the nozzle has a -cushioned or floating mounting within the bushing which greatly reduces the likelihood of failure of parts dueto fatigue.

.Member 83 alsohas a lip type portion l B which snugly :engages the periphery of nozzle 9 to providealipztyp lseal.

It is believed apparent that with this arrange- .ment of parts the nozzle 9 and ring 43 ma be quickly changed when required due to wear or the like. The ring !3 performs the dual runetion of releasably securing nozzle l-within bushing 3 and also sealing oh the connection between the .bushing and nozzle. Of course, the bushing and nozzle both may be made of wear resisting materials or the surface of the port through nozzle 9 maybe hardened or otherwise treated to resist the wear of the gritt drilling fluid which will flow therethrough in operation.

It will beseen that the object of this invention have been accomplished. Ther has been I provided a quick change slush nozzle assembly wherein the nozzle has a cushioned or floating mounting within a bushing secured in the slush :port'of a drill bit. The arrangement is such' that a minimum of parts are required and a single member serves to provide both a seal and an anchor for the nozzle. Ihe construction is'such that th nozzle may have slight axial movement .or breathing movement relative to bushings and yet this movement is resisted by a wedge of seal- .ing material.

It will be understood that certainfeaturesand subcombinations are of utilit and maybe employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by.-and .is'withinthe-scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made .of-theinventionwithout departing fromthe scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not .ina limiting sense.

Having described my invention, 'I claim:

1. A quickchange slush assembly adaptable for use with a rotary drill bit comprising a bushing with a bore therethrough, a nozzle within the bushing .boreand having a portion fitting closely with a portion of the wall of the bushing bore, means .for resiliently securing the nozzle within 4 the bushing and providing a seal therebetweeri including a flexible seal member and separate parts carried by the nozzle and bushing engaging the seal member, said engagement of at least one of said parts being releasable.

2. A quick change slush assembly adaptable for use in conjunction with a rotary drill bit com- ;prising a ibushing with .a bore therethrough, a

nozzle within the bushing 'boreand "having a portion fitting closely with a portion of the wall of the bushing bore and another portion providing .an annular space therebetween adjacent one end of the bushing, a flexible annular member .having an integral portion formed of sealing material filling the annular space and additional portions engaging hook like parts formed on the nozzle and bushing for securing the nozzle within the bushing, the engagement of the member with at least one of the hook like parts being selectively releasable.

3. A quick :change slush assembl y adaptablefor .use iconinnction with -a rotary drill bit comprising -a bushing with a bore therethrough, a

nozzle within the bushing bore and having in portioniitting closely with a portion Of the wall of the ';bushing .bore :and another portion pro- :viding :an annular space therebetween adjacent one end of the bushing, a flexible annular .mem:

her having .an integral portion formed of sealing material :filling the annular space and an additional sealing portion providing a lip seal with the nozzle and the ."IlOZZle and bushing being se cured to the member, at least one of which. is releasably-secured to the member. l

'4. A quick'change slush assembly adaptableinr use :in conjunction with a rotary drill bit .nQmr 1prising a bushing with a bor therethrough, .a nozzle within thebushing bore and having aportion fitting closely with a'portion of the Wall :Df the bushing, bore and another portion providing an annular space 'therebetween.adjacentpne end of the bushing, a flexibleannular member .'hav.- :ing an integral portion formed of sealing material filling :the .annular space and an additional sealing portion providing a lip seal with the bushing and thenozzle and bushing'being secured to the member at least one of which is releasa'oly secured-to the member.

5. A quick change slush assembly adaptable for use in conjunction with a rotary drill bit comprising a bushing with a bore therethrough, a nozzle within the bushing bore and having a portion fitting closely with a portion of the wall of the bushing bore, a flexible annular member having integral lip like portions providing lip type seals about the nozzle and bushing and hook like parts upon the nozzle and bushing for engagement with corresponding recesses in the member, at least one of the engagements being selectively releasable. I

6. A quick change slush assembly adaptablejfor use in conjunction with a rotary drill bit com prising a bushing with a bore therethrough, ,a nozzle withintheibushing bore and having a portion fitting closely with a portion of the wall of the bushing bore and another portion providing an inwardly tapered annular space therebetween adjacent one end of the bushing, means resilient- 1y securing the nozzle within the bushing and providing ,as'eal therebetween including a flexible seal member filling the annular .space and secured to the nozzle and bushing, at leastone of which is releasably securedtothe seal member, whereby the nozzle is .free to breathe in response to variations in pressure differentials thereacross.

7. In combination a rotary bit body having a slush port therein and a quick change nozzle assembly adapted to be secured in said port, the latter including a bushing with a bore therethrough, a nozzle within the bushing bore and having a portion fitting closely with a portion of the Wall of the bushing bore, means for resiliently securing the nozzle within the bushing and providing a seal therebetween including a flexible seal member and separate annular projection parts carried by the nozzle and bushing engaging the seal member, said engagement of at least one of said parts being releasable.

8. In combination a rotary bit body having a slush port therein and a quick change nozzle assembly adapted to be secured in said port, the latter including a bushing with a bore therethrough, a nozzle within the bushing bore and having a portion fitting closely with a portion of the wall of the bushing bore and another portion providing an annular space therebetween adjacent one end of the bushing, a flexible annular member having an integral portion formed of sealing material filling the annular space and additional portions engaging hook like parts formed on the nozzle and bushing for securing the nozzle within the bushing, the engagement of the member with at least one of the hook like parts being selectively releasable.

9. In combination a rotary bit body having a slush port therein and a quick change nozzle assembly adapted to be secured in said port, the latter including a bushing with a bore therethrough, a nozzle within the bushing bore and having a portion fitting closely with a portion of the wall of the bushing bore and another portion providing an annular space therebetween adjacent one end of the bushing, a flexible annular member having an integral portion formed of sealing material filling the annular space and additional sealing portion providing a lip seal with the nozze, and the nozzle and bushings being secured to the member, at least one of which is releasably secured to the member.

10. In combination a rotary bit body having a slush port therein and a quick change nozzle assembly adapted to be secured in said port, the latter including a bushing with a bore therethrough, a nozzle within the bushing bore and having a portion fitting closely with a portion of the wall of the bushing bore and another portion providing an annular space therebetween adjacent one end of the bushing, a flexible annular member having an integral portion formed of sealing material filling the annular space and additional sealing portion providing a lip seal with the bushing, and the nozzle and bushing being secured to the member, at least one of which is releasably secured to the member.

11. In combination a rotary bit body having a slush port therein and a quick change nozzle assembly adapted to be secured in said port, the latter including a bushing with a bore therethrough, a nozzle within the bushing bore and having a portion fitting closely with a portion of the wall of the bushing bore, a flexible annular member having integral lip like portions provid ing lip type seals about the nozzle and bushing and hook like parts upon the nozzle and bushing for engagement with corresponding recesses in the member, at least one of the engagements being selectively releasable.

12. In combination a rotary bit body having a slush port therein and a quick change nozzle assembly adapted to be secured in said port, the latter including a bushing with a bore therethrough, a nozzle within the bushing bore and having a portion fitting closely with a portion of the wall of the bushing bore and another portion providing an inwardly tapered annular space therebetween adjacent one end of the bushing, means resiliently securing the nozzle within the bushing and providing a seal therebetween including a flexible seal member filling the annular space and secured to the nozzle and bushing, at least one of which is releasably secured to the seal member, whereby the nozzle is free to breathe in response to variations in pressure difierentials thereacross.

CHARLES C. GOOLSBEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 682,250 Glauber Sept. 10, 1901 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 32,889 Germany Apr. 12, 1885 

